Avenir Suisse

Avenir Suisse is a Swiss public policy think tank founded in 1999 and based in Zurich. It produces research, policy recommendations, and commentary aimed at influencing debates in Switzerland on taxation, social insurance, infrastructure, and market regulation. The institute positions itself within a pro-market, liberal reform tradition similar to other European and transatlantic think tanks.

History

Avenir Suisse was established in 1999 by a consortium of major Swiss corporations including Migros, Nestlé, Novartis, UBS Group AG, Credit Suisse, Roche, and Swiss Re, seeking a platform analogous to Atlantic Council, Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, Fondation pour Genève and Istituto Affari Internazionali. Early activities included comparative studies referencing European Union member states such as Germany, France, Italy, and United Kingdom, as well as North American examples like United States and Canada. Over time the institute published position papers engaging with issues tied to agreements between Switzerland and the European Union, Swiss participation in organizations like OECD, WTO, and dialogues with World Economic Forum stakeholders. Prominent Swiss figures from the realms of Federal Council politics, banking such as Julius Bär Group, and academia including University of Zurich and École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne have appeared in its events.

Organisation and governance

The governance model combines corporate founders, a board of trustees, and an executive team, with leadership drawn from business and public sectors such as executives from UBS Group AG, former Federal Department of Finance officials, and academics from University of Geneva and University of Basel. The board has included figures with ties to Swiss National Bank, ETH Zurich, and cantonal administrations such as Canton of Zurich and Canton of Geneva. Operational management is overseen by a director and research staff who collaborate with international partners like OECD, IMF, World Bank, Bertelsmann Stiftung, and Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Advisory and programmatic links extend to foundations such as Gebert Rüf Stiftung, Rockefeller Foundation, and Swiss family offices.

Policy positions and publications

Avenir Suisse advocates for competitive markets, fiscal sustainability, and regulatory liberalisation, producing studies on topics ranging from tax reform and pension restructuring to healthcare financing, urban planning, and transport infrastructure. Publications compare Swiss practices with models from Germany, Sweden, Netherlands, United States, United Kingdom, Japan, and Canada and reference institutions such as European Central Bank, Swiss National Bank, International Labour Organization, and European Court of Human Rights. Notable reports address corporate taxation, drawing on cases like Apple Inc. and Google LLC in international tax debates; pension policy discussions referencing Bismarckian welfare state legacies and OECD pension indicators; and regional competitiveness citing Zurich Airport, Geneva Airport, Canton of Zug, and innovation hubs like EPFL and ETH Zurich. The think tank publishes policy briefs, working papers, and annual reports, and convenes conferences featuring speakers from Swiss Parliament, European Commission, Council of Europe, and multinational corporations such as Roche and Novartis.

Funding and finances

Initial endowment and ongoing funding derive primarily from corporate founders, membership contributions from firms across banking, pharmaceuticals, insurance, and retail sectors, and donations from private foundations. Major corporate backers historically include Nestlé, Novartis, Roche, UBS Group AG, Credit Suisse, and Swiss Re. Additional project funding has come through partnerships with international organisations like OECD and philanthropic bodies including Bertelsmann Stiftung and family foundations. Financial transparency is reported in annual accounts, and budgetary allocations cover research staff, publication costs, events, and collaborations with universities and consultancies such as McKinsey & Company and Boston Consulting Group.

Influence and reception

Avenir Suisse has been influential in Swiss public debates on fiscal federalism, tax competition, and labour market flexibility, cited by members of Swiss Parliament, cantonal executives, and media outlets including Neue Zürcher Zeitung, Le Temps, Tages-Anzeiger, and SRF. Supporters compare its role to Cato Institute and Institute of Economic Affairs for market-oriented policy influence, while critics from trade unions like Unia and parties such as Social Democratic Party of Switzerland and Green Party of Switzerland challenge its recommendations on social policy and redistribution. Academic assessments have engaged with its methodology in journals associated with University of Lausanne, University of Bern, and policy centres at ETH Zurich. Internationally, its work has informed discussions involving European Free Trade Association, World Economic Forum panels, and consultations with European Commission officials.

Category:Think tanks based in Switzerland